Opal's Pov

Every single time Rainbow opened her mouth I just got more confused. First, she wants to be friends, then she says we're too distant, then all of a sudden we were friends again?

I didn't blame her for calling me, of course. I remembered how I felt when my dad got married. Just like her, he'd already abandoned us. And just like her, I resented him.

It had been a day or two since miss hot-and-cold had called me about the wedding, and we were getting lunch together. We'd met up at the restaurant instead of the building we both lived in because evidently, she was letting her roommate dictate what she could and couldn't do.

"It's bullshit is all I'm saying," I said. "You're nineteen, she can't tell you you can't be my friend." Rainbow looked away.

"It's not quite that," She admitted. "She thinks you cause me too much stress and suffering." I scoffed.

"As if." I looked at my reflection in the napkin holder. "Should I cut my bangs?" I asked,  tugging on where they were tied at the sides of my face.

"God no." Rainbow chuckled. "When you started clipping them back I practically died." I chuckled.

"Well, at least you're here to talk me out of bad decisions." Rainbow looked at me, questioningly.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it." Rainbow was the last person I wanted to discuss my relationship with. "Anyhow, this isn't supposed to be about me, is it?" Rainbow still looked confused for a second but nodded.

"Yeah, I guess so." She stabbed at her waffles and shoved a bite into her mouth. "I mean like, how do you even talk to the chick your dad is about to marry?" Our waiter had come back to check on us, but Rainbow glanced at him and shooed him. I chuckled.

"Beats me. To be honest, I didn't even meet her until last year. Pearl was so surprised because she actually knew our youngest half-sister, she's in her grade!" I leaned back. "Honestly? You should be glad she's even reaching out to you. Granted, the intense hatred my parents had for each other may account for the twelve years without contact, but now we've actually done stuff as a family. It's incredible." Rainbow shrugged.

"I mean, I guess I just have a few red flags waved."

"Try me." I offered.

"They were seeing each other for months before the divorce?"

"Mine were seeing each other for years before the divorce. It took two children for my mom to finally file for divorce." Rainbow giggled a bit.

"And another thing," She added, eating another bite. "Don't you think it should be a simple rule that the person you marry should have at least been eighteen when your first child was born?" I was a little surprised.

"She wasn't eighteen when you were born?"

"She wasn't eighteen when Rose was born for God's sake!" We both burst out laughing.

"How much older than you is she?" Rainbow shrugged.

"Like twelve years? I don't know, she's in her early thirties I think." I shook my head in disbelief.

"Jesus, there's more space between Peridot and Centi," I muttered. "So what exactly did the letter say?"

"That she want's me to come a week early so she can 'get to know me as my stepmother.'" We both shuddered at the word stepmother.

"Why do you think she wants you to come early?" I asked, then faked gasped. "What if she want's you to be her bridesmaid?" I asked in fake shock.

"Noooo!" Rainbow said as we both laughed hysterically, gaining us a few harsh looks from older patrons of the restaurant. "But like honestly, I'm going to be offended either way."

"Really?" I asked, still giggling.

"Yeah! If she asks I'm gonna be like 'Hell no I don't want your sympathy woman!' But if she doesn't I'm gonna be like 'Damn girl I'm your stepdaughter!'" We both chuckled.

"What if she has you hang out with her bridesmaids and stuff?" Rainbow and I had to control our laughter.

"Damn, that sounds horrible! Anyhow, they already have that stuff written down on the invitation. I asked my Mom who some of the people were. She's got two sisters."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yeah. One's a couple years younger than her and has two little kids. Boy and a girl. They're gonna be the flower girl and ring bearer. Then her other sister's a couple of years older than us." I rolled my eyes.

"Sounds fun." Rainbow giggled a bit.

"Yeah, but I didn't even get to the best parts! My mom's met the one with the kids. And Natalia's mother. I guess the mother gets pissed at both of them because the one with the kids isn't married to their father and the younger one gets super drunk. I really hope I get to sit near them at the reception. Especially the drunk. I guess she tends to cause scenes at stuff like this." I laughed.

"Oh my God, this almost makes me wish I was closer to my stepmother's family. She's like... well, Sardonyx but louder. I'd honestly love to meet that side of the family." We both chuckled.

"I'm worried that it's going to be awkward," I smirked.

"One thing my mother kept telling herself so she didn't explode? She's the one who slept with a married man. Who had children. If anyone should feel awkward, it's her." Rainbow smiled.

Soon after that, we paid and left, much to the relief of everyone else in the restaurant. As we were walking back to the dorm together, Rainbow looked inside her purse.

"Damn, I've really got to stop eating out like this. It's running me into the grave. And I swear these restaurants jack up the prices to prey on the laziness of college students." I chuckled.

"You want to talk about pricey? Last semester I was practically driving home every weekend to go see Pearl." We both chuckled, then sighed.

"How is it?" Rainbow asked.

"Honestly? The last few days of break were hell. She didn't want to talk o me after I told Mom about Jasper's bullying." Rainbow shuddered a bit, and I finally realized what she had actually meant.

"But actually..." I suddenly realized I couldn't really say anything without upsetting her. "...Eating dinner with you and your mom was the highlight of my break."

"Really?" She asked, looking up at me. I nodded.

"Yeah. It kinda brought me back to the old days, you know? When we used to go over to each other's houses and play and have sleepovers, when we used to do dance together, before all the bullshit that happened." I explained.

"Like Pearl's accident," Rainbow said quietly.

"Or Rose..." I trailed off and grabbed Rainbow's arm. "I really miss her too." Rainbow nodded, sniffing a bit.

"I know."

"It feels like I've lost my own sister." Rainbow nodded again.

"I'd feel the same way if we'd lost Pearl..." SHe said. Suddenly, she stopped walking and looked me in the eye. "I don't know why I didn't visit Pearl more when she was in the hospital. If I could go back... I'd go every time Rose went. I'd show her how important she is to me. Pearl's my other little sister. I was so worried for her the whole time. I'd be devastated if anything else happened to her." I grabbed Rainbow's hands and squeezed them tightly.

"I know. But for now, let's just go home."

(A/N) Sorry it took so long! I had some serious writer's block! Also, have you seen Legs From Here To Homeworld yet? I have, and(SPOILER ALERT) I'm frantically searching for somewhere to inject White Pearl into the story because I Would Die For Her.

Random Fact Of The Day!: I knew about halfway through the first book that Rainbow was going to be this book's protagonist, however, did you know that I initially planned this book to be the third book? I wanted this book to be a flashback, but then not only would it make the plot of the third one confusing and ruin the ending of this one, but it would make the entire basis of the third one(flashbacks from certain characters to reveal their motives) useless!